By 
July 14th, 2026
Image credit: CCTV/Inside Outer Space screengrab
The trio of taikonauts that make up China’s current space station crew have spent nearly 50 days on the Tiangong orbital facility.
The China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) state that mission commander Zhu Yangzhu, Zhang Zhiyuan, and Lai Ka-ying — the first astronaut from China’s Hong Kong Special Administrative Region – are deep into running a range of scientific experiments.
The Shenzhou-23 crew are conducting tests, biomechanics research and brain function studies on the effects of microgravity on human health and performance.
China’s Tiangong space station as imaged by MAXAR satellite.
Image credit: MAXAR
Extra-long stay in space
As reported by China Central Television (CCTV), the in-orbit biomechanics data will enable ground researchers to map muscle-tendon interactions under microgravity. The brain-function studies are designed to assess how prolonged spaceflight alters human cognitive control and neural performance.
The Shenzhou-23 crewed spacecraft was launched on May 24.
According to the CMSA, the astronauts are set to carry out a one-year in-orbit stay experiment. As previously reported, one of the three space travelers would be selected for that extra-long stay in space.
For a video from CCTV, go to:
Posted in Space News
